Multiple reasons and people actually. Probably more on that later.

But for now this article by Abraham Piper at the DG blog persuaded me the most.

http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/1156_6_reasons_pastors_should_blog/

Now for grace to execute the stewardship well.

Part of my daily communion with God in the mornings includes the writings of Puritan William Gurnall as edited by James S. Bell, Jr. in a book called The Christian in Complete Armour (Moody, 1994). It’s subtitled, Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare. Actually for some reason I’ve fallen into the habit of turning here first in my reading disciplines after my prayer walk/jog/lumber. I gave up running a long time ago.

Here is a portion from today’s called, The Effect of Holiness.

When a Christian sees holiness sparkle in the life of another believer, the grace within him springs up as the baby in Elisabeth leaped at the sound of Mary’s voice. Truly, one holy man is enough to put life into a whole society; but on the contrary, the looseness of a single professing Christian endangers the entire group of people who know him. Therefore God has given us a strict charge: “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled” (Hebrews 12:14-15).

Oh to be a man holy enough to infuse life into a society and fearful enough so as not to endanger that society.

Because I am. A late bloomer that is. In more ways than one. But perhaps especially in terms of my theology coming to roost on the label reformed.

I’ve been a follower of Jesus since December 14, 1972. But until the genesis of my journey toward biblical Calvinism (there, I said it) in 1995 at Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando, working on my D. Min. I could only “boast” being a 3.5 point version thereof.

Then a prof in a class on church administration said “You need to read this book. It has nothing to do with my class. But you need to read this book.” It was John Piper’s signature work, Desiring God. Yikes. What a mind, heart, will-blower that read was.

I almost got it, but not quite. God had to take me out to the wilderness for a season (fodder for another post in the future, maybe) to get my attention more fully. But He got it. And I have never been more certain of my orientation in thirty years. This is my pond. I fish here. It may not be a very huge pond, given the landscape of modern evangelicalism, but I will happily keep my pole dangling in these waters the rest of my days, Lord willing.

It has been my joy and terror to pastor a reformed fellowship with decidedly baptistic leanings (Orlando Grace Church) for six years now. Who would have thunk it? I’m home. Thanks be to God. I can hardly believe it. Why did it take so long to come to roost? Why so many circuitous wanderings? Why am I so slow? I am soon to be 57 and playing catch up theologically, pastorally, philosophically, and every other “ly” ad nauseum.

So why blog? To be honest, I have resisted the lure. More on that later. Dinner is ready. A man must have his priorities.